Schuylkill Co. man suffers cardiac arrest while being handcuffed, later dies at hospital

Schuylkill Co. man suffers cardiac arrest while being handcuffed, later dies at hospital

A Schuylkill County man died Saturday, one day after he went into cardiac arrest while authorities handcuffed him, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Troopers were dispatched to Main Street and Second Street in Girardville shortly after 4 a.m. Friday for a report of a man, 33-year-old Lucas Markus of Minersville, who was running up and down the street yelling and trying to get into passing cars.

Upon their arrival, troopers made contact with Markus, but police said he did not respond to verbal commands. Markus was then Tasered, police said.

As Markus was being handcuffed, police said he went into cardiac arrest. Troopers immediately called for an ambulance and began CPR.

Emergency personnel arrived, and Markus was transported via air to a Reading-area hospital, where he was pronounced dead Saturday.

An autopsy will be performed at a later date to determine the cause of death, police said. The investigation is ongoing.